their agenda knocks down a lot of functioning institutions and left a lot of people worse off. >> helen andrews and her book boomers on c-span's q&a. >> you are watching c-span, your unfiltered view of government. c-span was created by america's cable television companies in 1979. today, brought to you by these television companies to provide c-span to viewers as a public service. >> connecticut governor ned lamont in his state of the state address talks about the response to the coronavirus pandemic and thinks the people of connecticut, first responders and teachers he also discusses health care, voting safely during the pandemic, racism, the states budget and fiscal health. stateamont: last year's

of the state address seems like a long, long time ago. mr. speaker, senator kelly, representative, my fellow state officials, general assembly, and guestsl branch, honored and the people of the great state of connecticut. me years ago you welcomed into the room where it happens. this year that room has become a virtual room. my sincerexpress gratitude to the nurses, doctors, caregivers, national guard, teachers and other essential workers on the front lines of our fight against covid. you have all stepped up in ways we never would have imagined necessary or possible. on behalf of a very grateful state, thank you, thank you, thank you.

i would like to take a moment of silence for the members of our connecticut family who we have lost this past year. who we have lost this past year. two years ago, i introduced my family to you, that we considered connecticut an extension of our own family. true today. , ande all in this together like any large family, we must care for one another. riddance,20 and good a challenging and humbling year. one year ago, we had never heard of covid. we have lostr, 6000 members of our connecticut family to this deadly virus. universities are trying hard to stay open, fighting for their very survival.

working families are struggling to stay afloat. and ouro all of you, scientific community, there is hope on the horizon. our state and nation are on the mend, and connecticut's comeback is happening. , i promised an open door and bigger table for democrats and republicans, labor and business, and it also includes a reopening committee, featuring the best health minds in the country. crisis ledugh this by science and honesty. some of those members are advising the president elect. people formed the vaccine advisory group, with leaders giving us confidence it is safe and effective to take the vaccine.

keeping with the hamilton theme i spoke years ago, when about young alexander hamilton, today, we are thinking about the only makes ah difference if nobody wastes their shot. resetting theout relationships which have for too long been neglected. as neighboring governors understood, this virus does not respect borders. when the federal government failed to come up with a national strategy, i worked with others in neighboring states. covid is not the only challenge that does not respect borders. i will continue to build those relationships, implementing more effective and less expensive solutions, transportation

options incentivizing the move to electric vehicles, zero carbon electric grid, and stronger protection from cyber attacks. i am working with neighboring states and look forward to a in ourdernizing gaming state and the legalization of marijuana. gaming,etting, internet legalize marijuana are happening around us. let's not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or underground markets. that nos another virus snowboarders. following the tragic death of individuals, our nation was forced to confront the hard truths. protests are meaningful as a call to action. states,iolence in other our protest highlighted the best

, lockingticut values arms in a common cause. we emphasize, health care as a basic human right. have a renewed understanding that affordable, quality health care is not only essential for us, but our communities. safelycannot quarantine and don't have access to the vaccine, that is dangerous for all of us. two years ago, we understood how you didn't have to choose between a family you love and the job you need. rush toral government implement their own version for , workers employees

fearing for their livelihoods. two years ago, a $15 minimum worker couldat earn enough to provide for them and their family. that worker is an essential worker. these he rose cannot simply telecommute. their work is to essential. last spring, some of these workers began working with the commissioner to identify the centers located next to our hospitals. weeks, 26 centers provided free childcare to those front-line workers taking care of us. businessesall struggling to keep their doors open, some of the many working families trying to make the ins

meet during this recession, we provided grants, especially for the restaurant and hospitality businesses hit hardest. have streamlined our unemployment benefit program so employers can save jobs and retain their workers until the economy is back. vowed to work i tirelessly to make sure our kids had the greatest opportunities to create a life of their own right here in connecticut. with many students having to learn from home, covid revealed that too many students are left on the wrong side of the digital divide, exacerbating the achievement gap, computer access, broadband, these are the tools essential to success for the foreseeable future. when the pandemic struck, we work together to solve the

digital divide. heart,rought his knowledge, and passion for education on behalf of the students across connecticut. he was ready and helped to secure more than 140,000 laptops , more than 40,000 internet connections for students. because of him, connecticut was the first state in the nation to ensure every single public school student was equipped to engage in remote learning regardless of family income. president elect is referring to our very own educational minister, who will be the next secretary of education. we also want to be the first state to make sure our black and hispanic children, along with their white peers, have a better appreciation of their history and civilization, including

native american history, which is about who they are and who we are. year, we will continue to emphasize our best and nation public schools and workforce development, making sure every child has the best opportunity at the starting line of life. ther 10 months of covid, entire state should rise to its feet. with schools close, we kept our safely open because we prioritize our children and their futures, because they are our future. voting is all about children. that is why elections matter. the secretary of the state gets a shout out for making it easier to vote during this pandemic. appreciated the absentee ballots and early voting. we should make this permanent.

emphasize how we important a balanced budget is to families, mayors, small businesses so they can accurately plan for their future. support, weur passed a balanced budget that included a down payment on paying off pension liabilities, and created the light is a rainy day fund in our state's history. in these turbulent economic toes, we are well-positioned fund critical services without cuts for tax increases. two years ago, the wall street journal asked, what is wrong with connecticut? now commentators are applauding our budgetary approach. as recognition of this hard work, analysts have reported that connecticut is getting its fiscal house in order. we now have the lowest interest

rates in our history, helping us rebuild our economy at less cost to our taxpayers. covid brings us back to health care, the fastest-growing piece of our state budget and your family's budget. this year, we implemented benchmarks for services, similar to the benchmarks that have saved massachusetts families and taxpayers billions of dollars. to controller continues prioritize centers of excellent away your family's encounter higher quality health care at less cost. this is true for small businesses and state employees alike. the attorney general is pushing to hold down generic drug prices. expanded, connecticut access at less cost for the first time in years. two years ago, i said i did not want our state defined by a

chronic fiscal crisis, which had been our norm and was sapping our confidence. want our state to be defined by the covid crisis. that this year be the year of the connecticut come back. young families and businesses are giving us a second look, choosing connecticut, perhaps it is the quality of our education or a more stable fiscal outlook, our mayors who brought our towns to life, including some of the safest dining experiences in the country. covid may not be our last pandemic. whatever the reason, as people seek to improve the quality of their lives, they are choosing

connecticut. they recognize and appreciate our connecticut values. connecticut is ranked one of the best states in the country to raise a family for women, working mothers, and for public safety. connecticut rank higher for education childcare, women's health. covid has pushed too many women out of the workforce. willieutenant governor stay the most family-friendly state in the country. we will be expanding our commitment to affordable housing, access to broadband, open choice school incentive, as well as an expansion of workforce development and small business fund. that is how we get connecticut growing again in working for all

our families with liberty and justice for all. the catechism i know won't let itself be defined by this crisis. it is a state that has responded to a generational calling, with dozens of volunteers providing atport to families distribution centers. nurses coming out of retirement to help the covid clinic. college student stepping up to serve, business leaders providing the state with masks, gowns, and countless other examples of connecticut meeting its generational challenge. these are connecticut values. the next year will be that challenging time for our state and nation, but i have never been more optimistic about our future. our shared values and commitment to one another and we will build a better tomorrow. ofay is the first day

connecticut's comeback story. god bless you all. and may god continue to bless the great state of conn c-span2 has top books and authors every weekend. saturday at 7:00 p.m. eastern, investigative journalist cheryl atkinson. then at 9:00 p.m. eastern, whole foods' ceo john mackey. , they at 9:00 p.m. eastern founder of the center for rural enterprise and environmental justice, catherine flowers, on her efforts to improve water and sanitation conditions in rural areas across america. c-span2 this" on weekend.

>> american history tv on c-span 3, exploring the people and events that tell the american story every weekend. saturday at 8:00 p.m. eastern on lectures in history, a university of delaware history professor looks at how colonial history is remembered through historic sites and monuments. and we look back at past presidential farewell speeches from president ronald reagan in 1989, president jimmy carter in 1981, president dwight d. eisenhower in 1960 one, and president lyndon b. johnson in 1969, sunday at 6:00 p.m. eastern on american artifacts, we visit the state department's u.s. diplomacy pavilion where are stored.tifacts at 8:00 p.m. eastern on "the